TL;DR

Riverside retreat

Must-see

Getting around

Best for

Our Review

Let’s start big picture. What’s the vibe here?Until 2014, the banks of the Mississippi River bordering the city's downtown Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods were essentially unwalkable. The city invested in a large renovation program that's transformed unsightly, post-industrial wasteland into a pleasant, accessible riverside park. Crescent Park is a mile and a half long but narrow, so it feels intimate and cozy. It's mainly a space for dog walkers, joggers, and yoga practitioners who want beautiful city and river views as their backdrop.

Fun! Any standout features or must-sees?The park’s main feature is a nod to the land’s industrial past. Known affectionately by locals as The Rusty Rainbow, the arched Piety Street Bridge is an imposing steel structure that brings visitors from the street into the park, at once suggesting railroads and commercial shipping before landing in a newly landscaped green space. The dog park and the old wharf, now a kind of small urban amphitheater, are also highlights.

Got it. Was it easy to get around?If the Rusty Rainbow is too much of a challenge, there are public elevators farther along the river to allow accessibility. Inside the park, street names are carved into the running paths to help you navigate.

That sounds cool. All said and done, what—and who—is this best for?The park feels very much like a local spot, and you're unlikely to find Mardi Gras-beaded tourists wandering around. Grab a bottle of wine and a cheese plate from nearby Bacchanal Wines and find yourself a grassy riverside spot for an afternoon picnic.